Conductive TTField Pad With Air Channels for Heat Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tumor treating field (TTField) systems experience heating issues due to current application, leading to discomfort and reduced treatment duration, and use rigid materials that do not contour to the patient's body.
Innovation Solution
Development of conductive pads with air channels and flexible materials to reduce heat buildup and enhance TTField generation, using semi-solid conductive gels with bulk electron transport agents like carbon black or graphene to improve conductivity and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If current is applied to generate TTFields, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but electrode temperature increases causing discomfort and reduced treatment duration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces air channels (porous structure) within the electrode assembly to facilitate heat dissipation. The air channels allow convective cooling and reduce thermal buildup in the electrode, enabling sustained high-power TTField generation without excessive temperature rise that would cause patient discomfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes air flow through the electrode structure (pneumatic principle) to enhance cooling. The air channels enable forced or natural convection of air through the electrode, carrying away heat generated during current application and maintaining lower operating temperatures.
2Reliability
If rigid ceramic materials are used for electrodes, then electrical insulation and safety are improved, but adaptability to patient body contours is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible substrate layer beneath the ceramic electrode elements. This flexible shell allows the rigid ceramic components to conform to the patient's body contours while maintaining their electrical insulation properties. The flexible substrate acts as a buffer that enables adaptation without compromising the safety function of the ceramic material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite electrode structure combining rigid ceramic materials (for insulation and safety) with flexible substrate materials (for contour adaptability). This composite construction integrates the advantages of both material types, achieving both electrical safety and physical adaptability to the patient's body surface.
3Productivity
If current density is increased to reduce treatment time, then productivity is improved, but heat generation and discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air channel structure increases the effective surface area for heat dissipation and improves thermal management. This allows higher current densities to be applied for more productive treatments while the enhanced cooling capacity prevents excessive heat buildup that would cause patient discomfort.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces heat buildup, allowing for more powerful TTField delivery without discomfort, extending treatment duration and improving patient compliance.
Implementation Method 1
The conductive gel element is directly connected to the electrode element so as to receive an electrical current from the electrode element. The conductive gel element is configured to be in contact with a patient's skin so as to generate an alternating electric field within the patient.
Implementation Method 2
conductive pads with air channels and flexible materials to reduce heat buildup
Data Source
AI summary
A pad having a topcoat layer, an electrode element and a conductive gel element are described. The electrode element is connected to the topcoat layer, and configured to receive an electrical signal from a generator producing an electric signal as a TTField. The electrode element includes an electrode layer and a non-conductive flexible polymer layer. The non-conductive flexible polymer layer is positioned between the electrode layer and the conductive gel element to electrically isolate the electrode layer from the conductive gel element.